My First Experience with Sand Tray Therapy in a Graduate School Counseling Sand Tray Therapy Class:
By: Anonymous Sand Tray Therapy Graduate Student

It's difficult to understand how miniature characters that are stuck in the sand in a sand tray therapy tray can be so powerful. It wasn't until I saw Dr. S work with one of my fellow graduate students on a sand tray therapy activity and then completed my own that I started to understand my own sand tray therapy tray.

In the days leading up to creating my own sand tray therapy tray, I thought about how it would look and what story my tray would tell. I had some very specific feelings and thoughts that I wanted to express in my sand tray therapy tray surrounding a situation I have been dealing with for about four months now, so that is what I did. 

I carefully selected some sand tray therapy miniatures and others I just selected because they made me smile, or in two cases made me feel slightly angry. I put my sand tray therapy tray together in a way it depicted the story I wanted to tell, however the more I sat there and looked at, the more I realized this picture actually could tell a few stories of my life.

I selected a sand tray therapy turtle and a penguin miniature to represent myself- the turtle because it had the hard protective shell on it's back and the penguin because it's arms were wide open and welcoming.

Although I selected these two minis with specific reason in mind for this sand tray therapy idea, I began to realize that it's not just this particular situation where I have this hard shell and open loving arms, it's a lot of situations. My life journey is what has developed the yearning to accept people with open arms, but also hesitate and keep my protective shell. 

This is just one small example of what I learned from my first sand tray therapy experience, but I could add so much more. It truly was an eye opening experience and a learning experience about how powerful of a tool sand tray therapy can be!

More Ideas for You:

How to Use The Sand Tray for Sand Tray Therapy Link:
More Ideas on Sand Tray Therapy 

For more free ideas on creative therapy visit the link below:
Creative Counseling 101.com Home 

Disclaimer: This website and its content is intended for trained licensed mental health professionals and school certified mental health professionals to use for their clients / students at their own discretion.

*If you ignore the disclaimer above are using these techniques on yourself and you feel any discomfort or upset it is highly suggested that you seek out a licensed  mental health professional immediately.

"Beyond Art Therapy" is the concept from Dr. Stangline that combines all creative fields in therapy. It is not the traditional "art therapy" but goes beyond to include sand tray therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, meditation, color therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a vast majority of other therapies.

For any other type of mental health emergency call your local 911 / Police Number immediately.

Dr. Stangline does not offer advice / suggestions to anyone who is not a professional mental health provider, or a student who is studying this field and has questions about mental health programs of study.